Reader reaction to our CTA Ventra coverage

A CTA turnstile promotes the coming Ventra fare card system. The card's debit account option has sparked criticsim over its various fees.

John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune

John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune

Jon Hilkevitch

I occasionally hear from commuters who want to know whether there are any citizens activist groups they could possibly join to establish a louder, more impactful voice resulting in public transit improvements in the Chicago region.

Unfortunately, there are not a lot of places to turn.

So it was with great enthusiasm that Tribune readers responded to Monday's Getting Around column, which mentioned a petition drive that has been started in opposition to the CTA's new Ventra fare card, particularly the fee-laden MasterCard debit account that is being offered as part of Ventra.

The petition, on www.change.org, was started by Ankit Patel, 33, a regular CTA rider.

Howard Ehrman read the column and he promptly sent the following request to many of his contacts:

"Please consider signing this new on-line petition to Stop the CTA's new Ventra Card, and then please forward this to all your co-workers, friends, neighbors and family. If you are not sure why, Ventra will make the Chicago Parking Meter Fiasco look like Kindergarten Play for all CTA Riders," Ehrman wrote.